Vouchers leave more questions than answers

Published: Sunday, February 1, 2004 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, February 1, 2004 at 12:00 a.m.

To The Editor: Re: Renee Kumor versus Bryan Aleksich. Yes, we need better schools! No, we don't want vouchers! What does Cleveland issuing vouchers to some students for $2,700 to attend private schools have to do with the real world? Even the generous $5,783 some Milwaukee children receive falls short of the $6,516 Henderson County kids receive from federal, state and county sources.

If we were to issue vouchers, would they match the current expenditure or would private schools have to make up the difference?

Private schools exist for several reasons, but none I know of is begging for students, particularly poor ones. Most of their vacancies can be counted on one hand. Perhaps Aleksich could list the schools thirsting for those diminutive grants. Arizona's answer is cited, but Arizona has a plethora of charter schools. Many of them have already gone bankrupt, some in mid-term.

If we properly support public schools (Henderson County is $1,180 under the state average), we'll continue to furnish our children a good education; if we dig a little deeper we can pay a couple pennies more and give them even better.

Aleksich did give us some good advice when he suggested we "vote Democratic."

<p>To The Editor: Re: Renee Kumor versus Bryan Aleksich. Yes, we need better schools! No, we don't want vouchers! What does Cleveland issuing vouchers to some students for $2,700 to attend private schools have to do with the real world? Even the generous $5,783 some Milwaukee children receive falls short of the $6,516 Henderson County kids receive from federal, state and county sources.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>If we were to issue vouchers, would they match the current expenditure or would private schools have to make up the difference?</p><p>Private schools exist for several reasons, but none I know of is begging for students, particularly poor ones. Most of their vacancies can be counted on one hand. Perhaps Aleksich could list the schools thirsting for those diminutive grants. Arizona's answer is cited, but Arizona has a plethora of charter schools. Many of them have already gone bankrupt, some in mid-term.</p><p>If we properly support public schools (Henderson County is $1,180 under the state average), we'll continue to furnish our children a good education; if we dig a little deeper we can pay a couple pennies more and give them even better.</p><p>Aleksich did give us some good advice when he suggested we "vote Democratic."</p><p>Paul J. Stepp</p><p>Hendersonville</p>